Playing soccer for fitness is fun for people of all ages. Being part of a team is rewarding. There are many exciting positions to play when playing soccer. Midfield, striker, and goalie are all important positions. The midfield person spends most of the time on the field controlling the direction of the soccer ball. The striker gets the ball and tries to get it into the goal. This position requires a lost of stopping and starting motions with the ball. The goalie guards the goal which is also a stop and start type of position. Any of these positions are good for fitness. Soccer works all muscle groups and takes a lot of practice to master. There are lots of positions which may make it difficult to get an overall workout. By combining different positions, a good workout can be achieved.
There are two types of ways fitness is measured in soccer. Aerobic fitness involves lots of oxygen intake and gives the heart and lungs a workout. Anaerobic fitness involves intensity. Each position is either aerobic or anaerobic. Midfield is an aerobic exercise. Striker and goalie are anaerobic. When playing midfield, the soccer player covers a lot more ground than a striker or goalie. This is why it is difficult to get an overall workout. Each player can only play one position per game. Switching around each time a game of soccer is played, is a way to get the cardio workout and the intensity training needed to tone the body. Cardio fitness is important for health and well-being. Building up a resistance will allow for longer playing time. Playing different positions is a good way to become more familiar with the rules of soccer and in figuring out which position is the best for a person who is new to the sport.
It has been shown that the best way to achieve this type of workout is to keep all have people of the same age group playing one game. At different ages, fitness needs change. It is important to be aware of this and keep the same people playing soccer against each for overall fitness. Some people are better at one position than another. This will lead to people wanting to play the same position all the time. Encouraging the switching of positions will allow for a better workout. Kids enjoy soccer because it is easy to learn and is something that can be played almost anywhere. Most kids play the game at school in gym class or after school on teams. Many schools now offer soccer as an after school sport and some colleges have even started teams. Encouraging fitness early on will ensure a lifetime of health.